Goose Island Altbier

Altbier is a hybrid style of beer that originated in Düsseldorf, Germany. Like Kölsch, the style that hales from Köln (Cologne), altbier is basically an ale that is top (warm) fermented, but then matured in a cool place, like a lager. This brew pours a caramel hue, with a light tan one-finger head. At 42 IBU's, it's fairly hoppy, but not astringently so, more piney than anything else. Light coffee and chocolate notes, but not so obvious that it detracts from the basic beer base. There's also a little bit of generic citrus to round things out. This is a pretty decent altbier.